City Vision-Labour Councillors were shocked
to discover at today's Finance and Strategy committee
meeting that Auckland City water users are now generating
such a profit for Metrowater that for the first time
Metrowater has had to pay tax with a whopping bill of at
least $6 million to be paid into Government coffers. In a
surprising move, Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Councillors
have refused to even acknowledge this as fact.

Councillor
Richard Northey said, "I am appalled at the gouging of
Auckland City water users who are now not only paying over
$22 million in charitable payments to Auckland City Council
this year but are also providing $6 to $10 million in
company tax to fund Government expenditure which will
benefit New Zealanders from Cape Reinga to
Bluff."

Councillor Cathy Casey said, "People are fed up
with being over charged for their water and waste water
services. It is blatantly dishonest to subsidise rates by
pushing up prices. People are really struggling and
Metrowater should be providing essential water services at
the lowest possible price."

Councillor Leila Boyle said,
"C&R have repeatedly voted to increase both charitable
payments and water prices so they have another source of
income other than rates. These policies are hurting our
poorest families by raising fixed charges higher than they
need to be. C&R are unfairly continuing to use Metrowater
as a 'cash cow' to fund Council projects which are
completely unrelated to Aucklanders' water and waste water
usage."

ENDS

Additional Information:

Today's
Finance and Strategy Committee agenda paper can be found
here:http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/members/committeemeetings/finance/20080924_0930/FIN%2D24092008%2DOPN%2DAGD%2D%2305.pdf

Metrowater's fourth quarter report for the quarter year
ended 30 June 2008 can be found
here:http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/members/committeemeetings/finance/20080924_0930/FIN%2D24092008%2DOPN%2DAGD%2D%2305a.pdf

The officers' recommendations and City-Vision Labour
amendments were as follows:

5. REVIEW OF
METROWATER'S PERFORMANCE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER –
2007/2008A. That the Finance and Strategy
Committee receive Metrowater's report for the fourth quarter
up to June 2008, noting that:i) the NPBT for
the year was $29.1 million, $1.1 million ahead of
budget;ii) capital expenditure was $54 million,
just $1.5 million under budget;iii) unaccounted
for water is now 15% (based on a 12 month rolling average),
well within the statement of intent (SOI) target of
16.4%;iv) Metrowater has met the full year
targets in relation to 19 of its 23 key performance
indicators set out in the 2007/08 statement of intent.
Targets not met are capital expenditure, number of
properties separated, enquiries and calls responded to
within ten working days, and 'one call resolution'.v)
all financial statements should be interpreted with caution
as the accounts are unaudited and are based on assumptions
that could change.B. That the Chair and Chief
executive of Metrowater be thanked for their
attendance.CARRIED

Councillor Northey to move the
following amendment by way of addition:vi)
Metrowater charges have been set at a sufficiently high
level to generate a Net Profit Before Tax of $29.1 million
that required an unprecedented at least $6 million of tax to
be paid in 2007-08.vii) a record charitable
payment, equivalent to a dividend, of up to $23.1 million
will be made available to be paid to the Auckland City
Council to supplement rates income so that the rates rise
can be held down to 5.0% for the 2009-2010 financial
year.LOST(2 votes in favour – Casey and Northey
4 votes against – Armstrong, Banks, Bhatnagar,
Goldsmith)

The Government has approved a negotiating mandate for Trans-Pacific Partnership 11 (TPP11), which will ensure New Zealand businesses remain competitive in overseas markets.

Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand will be pushing for the minimal number of changes possible to the original TPP agreement, something that the remaining TPP11 countries have agreed on. More>>

.

As a desperate Turnbull government tries to treat the Barnaby Joyce affair as a Pauline Hanson fever dream – blame it on the foreigners! We’re the victims of the dastardly New Zealand Labour Party! – our own government has chosen to further that narrative, and make itself an accomplice. More>>

Wellington City Council is partnering with the University of Otago, Wellington, to launch a voluntary Rental Warrant of Fitness for minimum housing standards in Wellington, Mayor Justin Lester has announced. More>>

“The Crown acknowledges Moriori was left virtually landless from 1870, hindering its cultural, social and economic development. The Crown also acknowledges its contribution to the myths that the people of Moriori were racially inferior and became extinct." More>>

ALSO:

Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy is in Geneva and has asked a United Nations committee to urge the New Zealand government to initiate an inquiry into the physical and sexual abuse of children and disabled people held in state institutions. More>>

The commitment was signed this afternoon by the leaders of Labour, United Future, The Maori Party, and the Green Party and, together with the earlier commitment by New Zealand First, means that there is now a Parliamentary majority behind the families’ fight for truth and justice. More>>